Over the last two years I have been involved as a the senior developer for an online management training company, my background covers most flavors of web languages at a high level and years of experience with SQL DB’s.
The application is currently running in classic ASP with a MS SQL backend but is due for a version 3 build starting next year.
I am being pushed into using an Oracle DB for the backend.
They are offering me proper Oracle training/qualifications etc which as I understand is a good thing to know in terms of earning potential in the future.
They want to use Oracle one because they think it looks good to the blue chips and two the technical director wants to use it as he used to work for them.
I’ve been summoned to a board meeting in a few weeks where I have to let them know my thoughts and basically make the decision for them.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Why use Oracle?
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Psychophylaxis
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In my work, I'm a part-time Oracle DBA and all I can say is that the Oracle product on Windows has gone downhill significantly over the last couple of years. Certainly we raise many more TARs (read bug reports) than we used too. But if you've got a chance to get certified, take it. Companies throw money at Oracle DBAs. I'm told that on Unix/Linux it's much more robust, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it on Windows.
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Space Cowboy
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Really kinda depends on what you want from this situation, doesn't it? If you want career advancement, a change to work with a technology that is undoubtedly in demand and which commands greater respect, in terms of $$$ recognition afforded by potential employers, than Microsoft SQL server, then surely it's a no-brainer?
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RageMatrix
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But Oracle has teh grid and is buying up companies faster than you can
shake a stick at them.
For the past couple of weeks I've seen a job going for Oracle DBA in ....
the Cayman Islands, between $50000 and $85000 tax free
OK so after 2 seconds of reflection you realise it's probably not too nice
living in a place like that when you actually have to work instead of just be
on holiday but still, you'd have plenty of relaxation facilities once the day is
over.
shake a stick at them.
For the past couple of weeks I've seen a job going for Oracle DBA in ....
the Cayman Islands, between $50000 and $85000 tax free
OK so after 2 seconds of reflection you realise it's probably not too nice
living in a place like that when you actually have to work instead of just be
on holiday but still, you'd have plenty of relaxation facilities once the day is
over.
I've been working on a PL/SQL project for the past two months or so. There are a few great things about Oracle, but you probably have to adapt your ways to make use of it. If you just have an application that does a couple of SQL queries to get stuff in and out of the database, any advanced DBMS will do.
Oracle starts to get really interesting as soon as you offload functionality into the database with PL/SQL programs, or if you do really complex sql queries on large datasets (and perhaps need to do profiling on them to weed out performance problems).
Also Oracle has tons of products built around the database engine, and some of them might be useful (call your Oracle licensing expert
...)
Oracle starts to get really interesting as soon as you offload functionality into the database with PL/SQL programs, or if you do really complex sql queries on large datasets (and perhaps need to do profiling on them to weed out performance problems).
Also Oracle has tons of products built around the database engine, and some of them might be useful (call your Oracle licensing expert
...)
As already mentioned, you're not tied down to one specific platform with Oracle. It will run on Windows, Linux, Unix and various flavours. There's lots of support for J2EE (From this point of view your in the opposing camp to .NET) and many of the most popular ERP/CRM solutions support it (SAP, Peoplesoft and Siebel (the later two now owned by Oracle)). Their largest install base is typically Oracle, rather than DB2 or MS-SQL.
Many big business are reliant on these applications so consequently the Oracle DBA is a valuable resource.
Switching to Oracle seems alot of trouble to go to if you're only changing the back-end. Maybe your TD has got a good deal
Many big business are reliant on these applications so consequently the Oracle DBA is a valuable resource.
Switching to Oracle seems alot of trouble to go to if you're only changing the back-end. Maybe your TD has got a good deal
Depending on your level of ninjery, Oracle can be too much gun. I'm a rather mediocre database guy, so MySQL is more than enough gun for any given task. I've worked with Oracle 9i, too, though and it has lovely features and rock-solid rollback if you need it. If I were doing something involving money transactions, I'd likely go with Oracle, but if it were data, I'd stick to MySQL.
Also, remember that with Oracle, you need to shell out for a seat for everyone who will be using it for all kinds of different applications, so it will add to the future cost whenever you add a staff member.
Also, remember that with Oracle, you need to shell out for a seat for everyone who will be using it for all kinds of different applications, so it will add to the future cost whenever you add a staff member.
Re: Why use Oracle?
code is so that it connects to either. A company with a sqlServer techie base are not necessarily going to want to take your software if its oracle only ( they might not have the expertise onsite) and vice versa. So you get the best of both worlds - pleasing to blue chip clients and to clients with a currently installed sql server. they'll thank you for not having to buy an oracle licence as well.Tyke wrote:Over the last two years I have been involved as a the senior developer for an online management training company, my background covers most flavors of web languages at a high level and years of experience with SQL DB’s.
The application is currently running in classic ASP with a MS SQL backend but is due for a version 3 build starting next year.
I am being pushed into using an Oracle DB for the backend.
They are offering me proper Oracle training/qualifications etc which as I understand is a good thing to know in terms of earning potential in the future.
They want to use Oracle one because they think it looks good to the blue chips and two the technical director wants to use it as he used to work for them.
I’ve been summoned to a board meeting in a few weeks where I have to let them know my thoughts and basically make the decision for them.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Kemper_Boyd
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I'm sure Oracle would love everyone to think that but if you look
at the TPC benchmarks Oracle, DB2 and SQL Server are all right
up at the top for high performance databases. Oracle does have
a wide range of markets covered and with a large installed base
it's got a lot going for it, though I don't know if it can be considered
the 'best'. You'd probably have to consider what IBM can deliver
with DB2 where they make the whole freaking system. Who else
designed and made the chips, built the system, wrote the OS and
database, can tailor it to your needs and run the bloody thing for
you if necessary?
at the TPC benchmarks Oracle, DB2 and SQL Server are all right
up at the top for high performance databases. Oracle does have
a wide range of markets covered and with a large installed base
it's got a lot going for it, though I don't know if it can be considered
the 'best'. You'd probably have to consider what IBM can deliver
with DB2 where they make the whole freaking system. Who else
designed and made the chips, built the system, wrote the OS and
database, can tailor it to your needs and run the bloody thing for
you if necessary?
I think most of the points have been covered, but just to reiterate:
It runs on many platforms
You don't have to pay per seat you can licence by processor, which depending on the number of users can work out cheaper
If just doing basic rdbms stuff, you can buy Oracle standard edition rather than Enterprise, this is a good option for small to medium size companies. (In fact it's as cheap as Sql server in this option)
Plus, personally you will have a very useful skillset to add to your cv, a lot of places want good skills on one database and good knowledge of another.
It runs on many platforms
You don't have to pay per seat you can licence by processor, which depending on the number of users can work out cheaper
If just doing basic rdbms stuff, you can buy Oracle standard edition rather than Enterprise, this is a good option for small to medium size companies. (In fact it's as cheap as Sql server in this option)
Plus, personally you will have a very useful skillset to add to your cv, a lot of places want good skills on one database and good knowledge of another.
blurgh!!!
Is the rebuild of the app going to be in .Net 2 ?
If so you might want to think about the support that SQL Server 2005 is going to give versus going Oracle.
I have managed classic ASP + Sql Server system development in financials for a specialist software house, and to be honest the SQL server bit was a mistake. Not because it isn't as capable as Oracle but because it is a tougher proposition to sell to the big financial institutions, very few have a "No Oracle Here" policy, whereas a number have an "Only Oracle Here" policy.
Having gone on to work on Oracle systems, the main observation I would have is that Oracle is a lot less friendly to dev's than SQL Server, SQL server tends to apply sensible default settings whereas Oracle has a habit of biting your bum.
If so you might want to think about the support that SQL Server 2005 is going to give versus going Oracle.
I have managed classic ASP + Sql Server system development in financials for a specialist software house, and to be honest the SQL server bit was a mistake. Not because it isn't as capable as Oracle but because it is a tougher proposition to sell to the big financial institutions, very few have a "No Oracle Here" policy, whereas a number have an "Only Oracle Here" policy.
Having gone on to work on Oracle systems, the main observation I would have is that Oracle is a lot less friendly to dev's than SQL Server, SQL server tends to apply sensible default settings whereas Oracle has a habit of biting your bum.